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Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

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August 8, 2008 9:05 AM

Position paper: Running backs

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Seahawks overhauled their backfield this offseason, signing Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, releasing Shaun Alexander and then choosing Owen Schmitt and Justin Forsett in the NFL Draft.

Now I didn't major in math in college, but a formula in which four backs are added and only one subtracted equals one pretty crowded backfield. The Seahawks are facing the possibilities of some difficult choices. I outlined one of those backs vying for a spot in Friday's story.

Seattle has kept five running backs on the final roster cutdowns each of the past four seasons, but coach Mike Holmgren explained that the number the team usually shoots for is 11 players at the running back and wide receiver positions. Here's a look at the numbers from 2002 to 2007. Remember, this is at the time of final roster cutdowns before the regular-season begins so it does not reflect players added in midseason:


	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002
RBs	5	5	5	5	6	4
WRs	6	5	7	6	4	5
RBs + WRs	11	10	12	11	10	9

So that number of 11 is more of a guide than an absolute rule. And one other thing to consider when you measure the number of running backs the team might keep is where the special-teams players are going to come from. Remember, the Seahawks lost Niko Koutouvides and Kevin Bentley to free agency. Those pair werer standouts. Wesly Mallard was a candidate, but he's now on injured reserve. Some of Seattle's wide receivers may loom large in kick returns, but there's no coverage specialist in that group like Alex Bannister was. The road for rookies like Justin Forsett and Owen Schmitt to make this roster in a crowded backfield is going to be on special teams.

Now, here's a look at the roll call for running backs on the 53-man roster over the past six seasons:


2007	2006	2005
5	5	5
Shaun Alexander	Shaun Alexander	Shaun Alexander
Maurice Morris	Maurice Morris	Maurice Morris
Alvin Pearman	Josh Scobey	Josh Scobey
Mack Strong	Mack Strong	Mack Strong
Leonard Weaver	Josh Parry	Leonard Weaver

2004	2003	2002
5	6	4
Shaun Alexander	Shaun Alexander	Shaun Alexander
Maurice Morris	Maurice Morris	Maurice Morris
Kerry Carter	Kerry Carter
Mack Strong	Mack Strong	Mack Strong
Heath Evans	Heath Evans	Heath Evans
	Chris Davis

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Submit a comment

Posted by Grant

1:09 PM, Aug 08, 2008

Given the pass catching abilities and overall talent of our RB's, I think a 6/6 breakdown would make sense. Especially when you compare the 4th & 5th (and 6th) backfield guuys from '03-07 with the names that would fill those slots today...

RB
jones
morris
duckett
weaver
forsett
schmidtt

WR
engram
burleson
branch
obamanu
Taylor
Kent/payne

Posted by SeaHawker81

2:23 PM, Aug 08, 2008

Grant I like how you're thinking there. If I were to choose I think that I'd go with pretty much that exact look. Forsett, Schmidtt, and 2 of the receivers would probably work quite nicely on special teams anyway.

Go Hawks!

Posted by Bill

2:35 PM, Aug 08, 2008

Did you really have to put a byline for a blog post? We know you have the best job in the world, Danny, you don't need to rub it in.

Just kidding, except not really.

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